MOWMT 2: Making Big Concepts Kid Relatable with Judy Cooper

Making Big Concepts Kid Relatable: Courage, Persistence, Forgiveness and Faith

“Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently.” – Maya Angelou“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. …” -  Calvin Coolidge

Kudos to Vivian Kirkfield for successfully tackling the big concepts of both courage and persistence in her picture book biography, One Girl’s Voice. Lucy Stone grew up in a world where men’s voices rang out, but women swallowed their words. But nothing could dampen the fire in her heart to speak out for women’s rights.  With scenes of Lucy’s youth artistically woven into the beginning pages of this book, children can immediately connect with the heroine of this story. And with language tightly crafted, Vivian showed Lucy’s struggles in a manner that is sure to keep a child’s attention while also being inspirational.

How important is forgiveness? Well, if you search for quotes on forgiveness, you can find at least 100! See 100 Forgiveness Quotes That Will Free Yourself.

In her book, Finding Forgiveness, Rebecca Levington does a masterful job displaying the concept of forgiveness, while weaving in her faith tradition, in a manner that is kid relatable. Rebecca is a skilled rhymer, but as all skilled rhymers know, the story comes first. So even if you don’t write in rhyme, this book is worth a look to study excellent pacing, how to introduce the story problem, and how to give the main character agency to solve it.

Advice often given to writers is to write what you know. Have you ever discovered a picture book that you wish you had written? Drawing God is that one for me. It combines both things I am passionate about and spend time contemplating: art and faith.  

The door in for a child in this book is beautifully executed. The reader sees a young child expressing her thoughts through crayon drawings. With faith, prayer and persistence, Emma tries again and again to draw God. She draws the sun to illustrate that God is light and a heart for God is love, but her classmates can’t see God in any of her drawings. She prays, “Help me draw You so my friends can see You.” Emma finally realizes that she doesn’t need their approval. In her heart, she knows God. And she eventually sees what a positive difference one person can make in the lives of others.

“God will rejoice over you with happy song…God will dance with shouts of joy for you.” – Zephaniah 3:17

What could be a bigger concept than showing children God as their heavenly father and His love for them? In my debut picture book, God's Wonder-Filled World: The Story of Creation, I utilized lyrical, concise language and lots of word play to tell the story of the beauty and wonder embedded in creation from the foundation of the world.

Seamlessly incorporating this passage from Zephaniah, the text shows children their heavenly Father's joy-filled love for them. Further lyrical language lets them know they are part of the ongoing story of God's creation. 

The essence of my book addresses children with the thought I saw one day on a plaque in a catalog: “How cool is it that the same God who created mountains and oceans and galaxies thought the world needed one of you too!”

How cool is that? Pretty cool!

Bio: Judy Cooper’s debut picture book, God’s Wonder Filled World :The Story of Creation,  is scheduled for release on March 9, 2026. She is the Manuscript Coordinator for Rate Your Story and an award recipient of the Florida-SCBWI Rising Kite competition. Her short story, The Candy Monster, was featured in a Make-A-Wish Foundation anthology publication.  Judy has designed and implemented a PreK-4th grade arts enrichment curriculum and is a docent at a Smithsonian Affiliate Art Museum in Central Florida specializing in tours for fourth grade students.

Find Judy Cooper here:

Author Website: HOME | Judy Cooper Writes

Facebook Page: Facebook

Author Facebook Page: Facebook

Prize: one picture book manuscript critique

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